Page 34 of The Tapes

TWENTY-SEVEN

Liam was supposed to save me an hour ago. We head back through the social club to my car and then set off for his house.

‘I heard from your police friend,’ he says as I pull away.

‘Kieron?’

‘He asked how you were doing…?’

I’m quiet for a moment. After our talk in the beer garden, I’d sort of expected Nicola’s father to check in and make sure I wasn’t drinking again. It still feels like something of an invasion.

‘What did you say?’ I ask.

‘That you were doing great.’

I can’t think of anything to reply. Liam and I do this sometimes, when each of us have a long day.

He’s married but our relationship isn’t like that.

I’ll sit in his living room, or he’ll sit in mine.

We’ll drink tea and watch bad television.

Sometimes we’ll talk but often we won’t. It’s the company that counts.

For now, he asks about the funeral and I tell him it went as well as expected. It feels as if I’ve had that conversation a lot recently. Liam sits quietly in the passenger seat, giving me space to say more, though not forcing it.

It’s almost accidental but his house is a short distance past my dad’s. I’ve visited so many times in the last week or so that I slow instinctively as I drive past, almost flicking on the indicator to head onto the drive when I remember this isn’t where I’m going.

But then I do stop. I’m blocking the road, though there’s nobody behind.

‘What’s up?’ Liam asks.

I strain against the seat belt, and then pull to the side of the road, wondering if I’ve seen what I thought I have.

Once I’m out the car, Liam joins me on the pavement. ‘Eve…?’

I’m not sure what to say but he follows me onto Dad’s driveway, then to the side. The door is hanging open, one of the hinges busted, the other hanging on by a couple of screws.

‘This is Dad’s house,’ I say.

Liam’s at my side as we stare at the smashed door. ‘It’s been crowbarred open,’ he says.